Spine Trauma

Question 1

Movements of spine

Answer 1

Flexion
Extension
Lateral flexion
Circumduction

Roatation

Question 2

Most common injured part of spine

Answer 2

Cervical spine due to flexibility

Mc-c2 then C5 to C7

Question 3

Ligaments of spinal column

Answer 3

Anterior and posterior longitudinal along vertebral bodies
Ligamentum flavum
Supraspinous 
Interspinous 
Intertransverse
Capsular ligaments

Question 4

Stability of spine fracture

Answer 4

Is defined as the ability of the spine to limit patterns of displacement under physiologic loads so as not to damage or irritate the spinal cord or nerve roots

Question 5

What is Denis column system

Answer 5

Splits spinal column into anterior,middle and posterior elements
Spine injury is unstable if at least two columns of a particular region are involved.
Not viable in the ED as polyrauma,severe pain,altered mental status result in suboptimal initial imaging
Also many centres lack MRI so ligaments cannot be assessed